Sotheby’s offers to pay sellers interest as art market struggles
Patrick Drahi-owned auction house contends with heavy debt burden in shrinking market
Patrick Drahi-owned auction house contends with heavy debt burden in shrinking market

Auction house posted 2025 profit as art market returned to growth

Borrowing facility adds another layer of debt to auction house owned by billionaire Patrick Drahi

UK-based auction house took hefty impairment charges and posted lower revenues for 2024

Upcoming asset sales are expected to yield as little as $200mn to pay off debt pile of more than $12bn

But it relies on a host of rosy assumptions going in investors’ favour

More frequent asset valuations can boost market resilience and investor confidence